Fault detector



0W lilo, `l.|\|l U r .@EJ 3 o0 mw Dec. 30, 1947. P. E. H. ElcHlNGER FAULT DETECTOR Filed May 2, 1944 Patented Dec. 30, 1947 FAULT DETECTOR Philippe E. H. Eichinger, Woodbridge, N. J., as-

signor to General Cable Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation otNew Jersey Application May 2, 1944, Serial No. 533,779

8 Claims.

l This invention relates generally to mechanism for detecting aws or irregularities in the fabric covering of an article of indefinite length such as,

for example, an insulated electric wire or cable to which a covering of one or more layers of fabric has been applied. More particularly the invention relates to, and may find its most useful embodiment in, a stop mechanism for a knitting, braiding or other machine for applying such a covering, in which form the invention may be arranged to control appropriate electrical circuits or other mechanism for stopping the machine when a flaw or irregularity occurs in the covering applied thereby on account of some failure in the functioning of the machine or in the supply of the elements making up the fabric cover.

It is well known that in the operation of such covering machines, irregularities in the finished product may result from unevenness or breaks in the yarn or thread, from broken needles in a knitting machine, or from other causes leading to imperfect functioning of the machine. If not detected and corrected such irregularities may be the cause of failure and rejection of long lengths of finished product. It is an object ofgthe present invention .to provide a. mechanism which will be simple to construct and which at the same .time will operate efficiently to detect flaws or irregularities, preferably as the covered wire or 'cable issues from the machine in which the cover is applied, but in any event before the covered wire or cable has been subjected to finishing operations and tested electrically or otherwise.

l Modern equipment for applying knitted or braided covering to wires or cable has been developed to the point where the covered wire or cable issues therefrom at relatively high speed. This is particularly true in the case of high speed knitting machines. A number of covering machines may be in charge of a single operator. Under such circumstances and in the absence of 4some such mechanism as herein disclosed, a considerable length of imperfect wire or cable may be produced by an improperly functioning machine before the situation is discovered and the machine stopped for, proper adjustments or corrections. Therefore it will generally be more advisable to associate the mechanism of this invention with a machine for applying the covering so that flaws or irregularities may be immediately detected, and preferably so that the machine may be stopped at once. However, there may be conditions under which this mechanism can be used advantageously as a separate instrumentality for the inspection oi' Wire or cable as it is passed therethrough from one reel to another and the mechanism is adapted for such use if desired.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been selected for'purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is af vertical axial section on the line 3-43 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a part of a. preferred form of hooked member which contacts the covered article.

The mechanism of the invention includes a hollow casing I which may be attached to the exit guide block of a wire covering machine, or to any other suitable support, in axial alignment with the wire 2, to which the fabric covering 2 has been applied, as the wire emerges from the machine in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3. When attached to the usual exit guide block the casing l may be held in position by set screws 3 and 3'. The casing will be so mounted on the covering machine that the Wire will travel through the hollow bore of the casing.

Mounted in the free end of the casing I, as by set screws 5 and 5'. is a wire guide I having a longitudinal bore of a diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the covered wire passing through it. The exact diameter chosen for any particular wire will be such as to permit the passage therethrough of patched or jointed portions of wire which are of diameter somewhat larger than normal. This guide determines the path of the covered wire and holds it against radial vibration and permits of certain adjustments so that the mechanism presently to be described may operate efciently upon it. The guide 4 is readily removable and replaceable by another of larger or smaller bore according as the outer diameter of the covered wire passing through it is greater or less. The head B of the casing I may be calibrated as shown in Figure 1 for purposes which will later be described.

' The casing I and guide block I are slotted longitudinally Apreferably throughout their entire length and the guide block should be so mounted in the casing that the longitudinal slots l and 8 will be in exact alignment. A portion of the wall of the casing I in radial alignment with the slot 1 is bored out to provide a cylindrical chamber 9 within said wall. This chamber is closed at one end by thisl @ating wall and at the other by the which has been engaged.

screw plug lll. Positioned in this chamber 9 are the compression spring II and a cylindrical slotted plug providing a pivot mounting I2 for an elongated hooked member I3 having at one end an outwardly extending arm I4 and at the other end the hook I5.

The configuration of the hook I5 is carefully selected and the hook carefully adjusted so that it may bear against the fabric cover and yet permit the cover to slide freely past the hook until same flaw or irregularity creates `a depression in or projection from the normal surface of the covering such that the open point of the hook will be engaged thereby. Satisfactory results have been secured with a hook of the shape shown in Figure 4. Conveniently this hook may be that of a standard latch knitting needle with the latch removed, such as a Torrington needle Number 2606 CR.

The hooked member I3 lies normally within the slots I and 8 and passes through the slotted portion of a tubular housing I5 in which a compression spring I'I is positioned. This spring is adjustable by a screw I8 to press against the member I3 and hold the hook I5 closely against the cover 2' of the wire 2.

The angular adjustment of the hook to the moving covered wire is important. As shown, the angle of the hooked end is about 18 to the vertical path of the covered wire. A very fine adjustment of this angie may be effected by moving the guide block 4 to the right or left, as shown in Figure 3, whereupon it may be secured in adjusted position by set screws 5 and 5', shown in Figure 2, and the position noted by reference to the calibration on casing I as shown in Figure 1. The setting of the guide block 4 with reference to the calibration on casing I will serve as an indication of the proper adjustment of like mechanism attached to other like machines operating upon the same size wire. The replacement of the guide block 4 is also facilitated. If the glide block 4 is moved a readjustment of the tension of spring Il by the screw I8 may be required.

When the hook catches in any irregularity presented by the surface of the moving covered wire the entire member I3 will be drawn along with the wire against the resistance of the compression spring I I for a limited distance until the hook pulls out as by breaking the thread of yarn Means are provided to stop the machine or otherwise advise the attendant of its imperfect operation, which means become operative as the member I3 is displaced longitudinally in the direction of the moving wire, the hook I5 having engaged a flaw or irregularity therein. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, such means includes an electrical switch mechanism surrounding and supported by the housing I B but insulated therefrom by the bushing I9 and extending outwardly'to provide flexible blades 20 for l,engagement by the projection I4 of the hooked member I3, A binding post 2| provides a connection for one side of an electrical circuit through flexible blades 20 and insulated wire 22, the other side of the circuit being grounded to the machine. Other commonly used types of switch mechanism may be substituted for that shown.

The operation of the mechanism will be apparent from the foregoing description and may be briefly summarized as follows. Assuming that the wire 2 is traveling through the casing I and guide block 4 as it emerges from the covering machine, or as it is passed from one reel to another, the angular relation of the hook I5 to the moving wire is adjusted by proper positioning of the guide block 4 as previously described. Then the screw I8 is so positioned that under pressure of the spring II the hook I5 will bear firmly against the covering of the moving wire. If an irregularity, such as a depression or projection, exists in the fabric cover of the moving wire at a point against which the hook is pressed, the open point of the hook will catch in the fabric cover. Further motion of the wire will move the entire hooked member I3 longitudinally in the direction ol the wire against the spring II. At the same time the arm I4 willl be moved in the direction of the switch 2li and make contact therewith to complete the electrical circuit through the conductor 22 and blades 20 to ground. This electrical circuit may operate through suitable relays or other devices to stop the main source of power of the knitting or braiding machine to which the mechanism of the invention is attached, or to disconnect the machine from its main source of power. If the mechanism of this invention is used apart from the covering machine the closing of this circuit may actuate a signal, and if desired stop the passage of wire through the mechanism.

Due to the nature of a knitted or braided fabric cover of the type herein mentioned,`any flaw or imperfection will usually extend around the fabric cover so that the irregularity will be detected by one hooked member as herein described.

When a flaw or irregularity has been detected as above and the machine stopped, the operator will first disengage the hook from contact with the wire by rotating the hooked member I3 counterclockwise upon its pivot I2 as shown in Figure 3. A pin may be inserted between the guide I blocki 4 and the upper end of member ISI to hold the hook in disengaged position. Thereupon the wire 2 is drawn back through the casing I and all imperfect covering removed. The wire is then drawn further back into the covering ma chine so that, after proper readjustment or replacement of parts or yarns which caused the imperfection, the covering of the wire may proceed from the point where the imperfection first occurred. In order to resume covering the wire it may be expedient to overlap the previously applied cover to some extent, and until this has passed through thegi1ide block 4 the 'hook I5 will continue to be held out of engagement with the cover. Thereafter the pin is removed and the hook permitted to contact the covered wire as previously described.

The invention herein disclosed may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Mechanism for detecting irregularities in the fabric covering of an article of indefinite length comprising, in combination, a guide past which the article is moved, a hooked member mounted in proximity to the path of the moving article and having a hooked end positioned for engagement by any irregularity in the covering of the article, adjustable means continuously, yieldingly pressing said hooked end against the surface of the covering and in the direction of the Vguide both before and after functioning, and means providing a mounting for said hooked member permitting limited straight line displacement thereof in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the article when the hook engages any irregularity in the covering of the article.

2. Mechanism for detecting irregularities in the fabric covering of an article of indefinite length comprising, in combination, a guide past which the article is moved, an adjustable hooked member mounted in proximity tothe path ofthe moving article and having a hooked end positioned for engagement by any irregularity in the covering of the article, adjustable means continuously,

yieldingly pressing said hooked end against the4 surface of the covering and in the direction of the guide, said guide being adjustable laterally for ne adjustment of the angle of contact of the hook on the covering, and means providing a mounting for said hooked member permitting limited movement thereof in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the article when the hook engages any irregularity in the covering of the article.

3. Stop mechanism for a machine which applies a fabric covering to an article of indefinite length as it passes through the machine, comprising, in combination, a hooked member mounted in proximity to the path of the covered article as it comes from the machine and adapted to be displaced from its normal position when the hooked portion engages an irregularity in the covering, yieldable means continuously pressing the hook closely against said covering, means for regulating and adjusting the angular position of said hooked member with respect to said covering, and stop control means operable by said hooked member when it is displaced in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the article.

4. Stop mechanism for a machine which applies a fabric covering to an article 0f indefinite length as it passes through the machine, comprising, in combination, a hooked member mounted in proximity to the path of the covered article as it comes from the machine and adapted to be displaced from its normal position when the hooked portion engages an irregularity in the covering,l

yieldable means continuously pressing the hook closely against said covering both before and after functioning, and stop control means operable by said hooked member when it is displaced in a straight line in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the article.

5. Stop mechanism for a machine which applies a fabric covering to an article of indefinite length as it passes through the machine comprising, in combination, an elongated hooked member pivotally mounted with the hook portion in proximity to the covered article as it comes from the machine and arranged for limited straight line, longitudinal displacement in a direction parallel to the direction of the moving article when said hook engages an irregularity in the covering, adjustable yieldable means continu- 6. In stop mechanism for a machine which appliesa fabric covering to an article of indefinite length as it passes through the machine, the combination with an adjustable guide block for said article, of a hooked member so positioned that the hook portion thereof will closely contact the article during its passage through said guide block and will engage any irregularities in the covering, adjustable means for maintaining the hook continuously in contact with said article covering, a yieldable mounting for said hooked member permitting displacement thereof from its normal position in a direction parallel to the direction of the moving article upon engagement with any irregularity in the covering, and a switch operable by said hooked member upon. displacement thereof in the direction of the moving article to actuate an electrical circuit for stopping the machine.

7. In stop mechanism for a machine which applies a fabric covering to an article of indefinite length as it passes through the machine, the combination with an adjustable guide block for said article of a hooked member pivotally and slidably mounted in proximity to said guide block, an adjustable spring to press the hook end of said hooked member against the article so that the 'hook portion thereof will be in a position to engage any irregularities in said covering, a spring to resist longitudinal movement of the hooked member when it is engaged by any irregularity of the covering, and means in the path of said hooked member adapted when contacted by an element thereof to actuate an electrical circuit for stopping the machine.

8. In a stop mechanism for a machine which applies a fabric covering to an article of indefinite length as it passes through the machine, the combination with an adjustable guide block for guiding said article of means pivotally mounted in proximity to said guide block and having an out wardly extending arm adjacent the pivoted end and a hook at the other end, an adjustable screw pressed spring positioned in proximity to said hook to normally press said hook against the article as it moves through the guide block so that the hook will engage any irregularity in the covering of the article and draw the pivotally mounted means longitudinally in the direction of the moving article to a limited extent, a spring to resist and limit the longitudinal movement of said pivotally mounted means, and electric switch means in the path of said arm adapted when contacted thereby to actuate an electrical circuit for stopping the machine.

, PHILIPPE E. H. EICHINGER.

REFERENCES CITED file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sperzel Feb. 6, 1945 Number 

